Miracle Comeback Falls Short: Great Falls Mets: 20 Phillies 15

What a game it was on a perfect Saturday afternoon. The Phillies came ready to play and Aidan looked sharp. The first batter grounded out to second. The next batter doubled to center and was followed by a ground out to the mound. A long shot over the left field wall scored two runs. A single and some wild pitches resulted in a run. The Phillies picked up a run as Sam reached on an infield error, Kyle walked and two wild pitches scored Sam. After one it was 3-1 Mets.

Krish came on for his second outing of the year and struck out a batter but a walk and three consecutive doubles resulted in three runs. William came to the mound for his first appearance of the year. He threw strikes, but the Mets got a single, walk and a double to score some more runs. Evan came on and struck out a batter for out two. Two more doubles and two walks brought Coach Grossman back to the mound to bring in Kyle. Kyle threw one pitch and got the out on a ground ball back to the mound. Bottom of the second and went down on three ground balls to second. After two it was a 10-1 lead for the Mets.

Top of the third and a leadoff single to center started the inning. After wild pitch, the next batter grounded back to the mound and Kyle alertly looked the runner back to second, but the batter was safe at first on a close play. A wild pitch scored the run and infield hit to third followed by a triple resulted in two more runs. Kyle struck out the next batter and a fielders choice at second ended the inning. The Phillies went down quietly in the bottom of the third on two strikeouts and an infield ground out. After three it was 13-1 Mets.

Top of the fourth and Mets offense continued their barrage. Krishan came on the mound and gave up a single to center and a walk, but the next batter lined out to Cam at first for out one. A walk loaded the bases with one out. A long double to center scored two runs. With a 3-2 count, Coach Grossman came to the mound and replaced Krishan as he had been reserved by his travel team to pitch the next day. [Editors Note: Coach Grossman could have left Krishan in to finish the batter, but he really didn’t want Krishan to pitch a lot more than the 20 pitch maximum and with a 3-2 count, Coach Grossman envisioned a long series of foul balls.] Isaac came the mound for his majors pitching debut. He walked the batter Krishan had been pitching to but then threw a solid first pitch strike to the next batter. On a 3-2 count the batter singled to left to score a run. An infield single resulted in another run. The next batter popped out to second where Sam made a nice catch. A couple more singles resulted in runs and the inning mercifully ended on a groundball to Michael at short who touched to second to end the inning. When the dust had settled the Mets had amassed what appeared to be an insurmountable 20-1 lead. Bottom of the fourth and the Phillies went ot work. Michael led off with a hard double down the left field line. Sam beat out an infield single. Kyle smashed a single to left. Krishan hit a sold double and scored on some bad throws. Four runs had scored and when the inning ended it was still a very large Mets lead at 20-5.

Top of the fifth and Reese walked the first batter and after a strikeout and a wild pitch, the next batter hit a shot to Krish at second. He caught it and alertly stepped on the bag at second for an inning ending double play. Bottom of the fifth and due to time constraints it would be the last inning. Down 20-5 and with one out, the Phillies went to work. Isaac walked. Joseph was hit by a pitch (the ball grazed his shirt) and Evan walked to load the bases. Michael singled to score Isaac. Sam walked to score Joseph. Kyle singled to score Evan. Krishan doubled to right to score Michael and Sam and Kyle. Suddenly it was 20-12. Still more work to do. A strikeout meant the Phillies were down to their last out. Not to fear. Reese walked. Aidan smashed a double to center to score Reese. 20-13, more to do. Cam was hit by a pitch. Krish singled to right to score Aidan. 20-14, more to do. Mets start to get worried and go to the bullpen. Bases are loaded. Isaac draws a walk and loads the bases. Joseph walks and now its 20-15 and the crowd is going wild. Michael and the vaunted Phillies top of the order is on deck. The closer gets the Phillies batter on a tough pitch to end the game.

Coach Grossman said, “Wow! That was a crazy one. I meant to try to give some of our guys who have been asking to pitch a chance on the mound and they have looked good enough in practice that I didn’t really think it would result in a 20-1 hole. I’m very proud of how our guys never gave up and I really believe we just ran out of time. Heaven help those Mets if we play a sixth inning as we’d have our ace closer on the mound and the top of the order coming up to bat. I think we’ll be ready for our final tuneup before the playoffs next Wed and it’ll be fun to see how we do in the playoffs. I’ll think we can absolutely play well against anyone.”